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In leadership, weakness is often seen as a liability. A roadblock. Something to overcome. But what if weakness is actually the platform for God's power in your life?
In this episode, we continue exploring one of the most misunderstood and countercultural truths of the gospel—God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The world—and even much of the church—chases after strength, size, eloquence, and success. But Paul’s life and leadership tell a different story. The super-apostles of Corinth flaunted their credentials, spiritual gifts, and influence. Paul? He boasted in his suffering, his limits, his thorn in the flesh—because that was where the power of Christ rested on him.
As leaders, we often think, If only I were stronger, more gifted, more influential… But what if God’s way isn’t about making us stronger but about making us weaker, so His power can be revealed?
Join me as we dive deep into this paradox that could transform your leadership—and your life.
Pete builds on last week’s message, “Listen,” and moves to practical applications that have served him to sharpen his own discernment process. In particular, he draws from the insights of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of Jesuits and shares four insights that have served him in listening and discerning God’s will.
Listening and discerning what God is saying is one of the most important areas of discipleship for any Christian. This especially applies to leaders. When we listen wrongly, the ripple effect is far-reaching. In Matthew 17, we observe Peter in a hurry to advise Jesus. He attempts to do the right thing for Jesus, but instead of waiting and listening, he is too eager to make plans. God the Father rebukes him and calls him to right listening, a listening that allows the word of Jesus to do its full work and create a relaxed, un-frenetic obedience in and through him.
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In this podcast, Pete shares 6 unique contributions Emotionally Healthy Discipleship brings to the challenge of bridging barriers of race, culture and class and shares the final four contributions of EH Discipleship to this pressing global issue that confronts us as the church in the 21st century.
The first Christians viewed themselves as part of world-wide family that transcended national, class, cultural, and racial barriers. They understood Jesus, through his blood shed on the cross, had destroyed these barriers and created new people, the church (Eph. 2:14-15). Pete shares his story in coming to grips with this complex reality as a new believer and how it led him to plant New Life Fellowship Church in New York City with a mission to bridge racial, cultural, economic and gender barriers. He also discusses three contributions of EH Discipleship for building reconciled communities.
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It has been said that all of life is one person handing off their anxiety to another. There are few places this applies more clearly than in leadership. In chapters 6 & 7 of the gospel of John, Jesus' brothers come to Him frantic with worry that Jesus’ ministry is in deep trouble and urge him to go to Jerusalem so the crowds can see his miracles and he can rebuild his following. Jesus refuses to take on their leadership anxiety, replying: “My time has not yet come; for you any time will do” (John 7:1-9). How did Jesus so calmly deal with their anxiety? What do you normally do when external counsel, or an internal voice, urge you to act quickly so you don’t appear to be failing?
Pete and his wife Geri sit down to reflect on the 7 Marks of an Emotionally Healthy Wedding. On August 17th of this year, Pete and Geri hosted an international wedding with 20-25 guests coming from the other side of the world. As a result, a one-day wedding grew into a larger five-day event and offered a window into a unique, high-level application of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship.
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Each of us encounters storms and circumstances we cannot overcome. In this podcast, Pete talks about moving beyond an intellectual belief in the resurrection of Jesus to a practical trust that transforms our obstacles into gifts. In John 11 Jesus asks Mary a question: Did I not tell you that if you trust, you will see the glory of God? (John 11:40). He asks us the same question today.
The whole core of the Christian life can be summed up as praying, abiding, and being with Jesus. Our first work in life is not to get something from God but to be with God. In this podcast Pete shares a message from John 2 on prayer and trusting in a wine that never runs out. May it be an encouragement to you to trust in Jesus and cultivate a life of deep connection and being with Jesus each day.
“We must not give to others what we have received for ourselves; nor must we keep for ourselves that which we have received to spend on others. You fall into the latter error, if you possess the gift of eloquence or wisdom, and yet—through fear or sloth or false humility—neglect to use the gift for others’ benefit. And on the other hand, you dissipate and lose what is your own, if without right intention and from some wrong motive, you hasten to outpour yourself on others when your own soul is only half-filled.” words from Bernard of Clairvaux.
What will you do with the treasure of your life?
Being a disciple is an on-going shaping and molding by God. In this podcast based on a recent sermon, Pete shares how Jesus wants us to “stick with Him,” allowing Him to radically transform and reorient our lives.
